Saturday, April 5, 2014

Apostille???


Joanna Rolston writes in her travel blog "How to Apostille Your U.S. Documents for Moving Abroad." This is a new word to me, but it means certifying certain documents to be real that will be used in a foreign country. There are three steps to the process. Joanna is always interesting.

Travel Is Magic

Travel By Edna  St. Vincent Millay

The railroad track is miles away,
And the day is loud with voices speaking,
Yet there isn’t a train goes by all day
But I hear its whistle shrieking.

All night there isn’t a train goes by,
Though the night is still for sleep and dreaming,
But I see its cinders red on the sky,
And hear its engine steaming.

 My heart is warm with friends I make,
And better friends I'll not be knowing;
Yet there isn’t a train I wouldn’t take,
No matter where it’s going.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Book Review: Oaxaca Chocolate: A Santo Gordo Mystery (Santo Gordo Mysteries) Paperback by Charles Kerns

This is my second time for a Charles Kerns novel. The first was “Santo Gordo: A Killing in Oaxaca (Santo Gordo Mysteries).” Let’s say you have heard about becoming an expat and you’ve heard good things about Oaxaca, Mexico. The best advice is rent for an extended time to see if you like the culture, the people, the food, and the climate.

Take a short cut with Charles Kerns, as Robert Evans, a retired American living in Oaxaca. Robert Evans (Roberto) is nick-named Santo Gordo, because he is an amateur detective and to the people who know him, he solves mysteries and is their saint, with a small “s”. Through Roberto you will learn what it’s like to live among the natives, be their friend, eat their food and share in their holidays.

This book takes place around Christmas and New Years. With Roberto you’ll see how the Mexicans celebrate the birth of baby Jesus. Like “…A Killing in Oaxaca” I find the culture and people comforting. I seem to slow down when I read what Kerns has written. We also learn that it is not appreciated, at least by this writer, to have Americans think they know what is best for Mexicans; to think that American culture and ways of business are superior. They don’t want the fast paced life and pursuit of money to dominate their life style. If you move to Mexico, don’t be upset if Mexico isn’t like the U.S.

I recommend both books by Charles Kerns and I give both five stars

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